Events and more mundane matters . . .

Despite the onset of unseasonable weather, the large number of events being hosted by the city continues unabated.

This week we've had the Large Herds' Conference; the Alliance Freezing Works Conference; the Wolseley Car Club Rally and on the horizon is the Americarna Rally and the University Games.

The events industry is important for the city but the more mundane task for Council this month is setting the rates. Councillors are well aware of the fact that we don't own the city. We are simply caretakers for future generations so it is important that you get involved.

As well as producing a Draft Long Term Council Community Plan for you to comment on, we also have an open forum before every Council and Committee meeting; we have a live talkback show on Cue TV; we have a Youth Council that reports to every Council meeting; we run clinics and workshops; we conduct polls and surveys, and every three years we face the ultimate referendum, elections.

All these activities are aimed at you, the public.

We want you to have a say on what you believe is the best direction for our city. This year we introduced yet another initiative that we hope will stimulate interest in our future. We hired the former Mayor of Wellington, Mark Blumsky, to hold a series of workshops looking at our good points; our bad points and our points of difference.

If you wish to comment on wheelie bins; the Bluff Pool, or any other Council policies, this is your opportunity to have your say.